Thursday, October 7, 1999 Published at 10:45 GMT 11:45 UKUKRelatives' vigil at crash siteA policeman leaves his own mark of respectRelatives of the London train crash victims are due at the scene - amid fears that the number of dead will reach 70, and possibly many more.

Mr Prescott said money was not an object and added: "I hear these arguments about £250m for one (system) and £1bn for another - £1bn is not a great amount of money, quite frankly."

At a news conference on Thursday morning, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter, of the Metropolitan Police, said the search would continue until at least Saturday and rail services may not be restored until the middle of next week.

At least 70 people are believed to have died when two commuter trains collided almost head-on near the west London station. Of the 36 people still in hospital, 11 remain critically injured.

But the bodies of a further 100 people, so far unaccounted for, could lie in the carriages - many of them in the burnt-out remains of the Great Western express, which was turned into an inferno in Tuesday's collision with a local Thames train.

Temperatures hit 1000C as fire swept through the first class Carriage H, in what has already become the worst rail accident in the UK for more than 30 years.

Rescuers have to assemble a 100-tonne crane capable of moving and stabilizing Carriage H before a fingertip search can begin. The crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tonnes, is not expected to be in operation until Friday.

Unclaimed cars in Reading station car park hint at the town's loss

On Wednesday it was revealed the driver of the Thames train, 31-year-old Michael Hodder from Reading, Berkshire, had driven through a red signal.

The signal, known as SN109, has been known to give trouble before and the train operators have complained repeatedly to Railtrack and Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate.

The police are trying to end the confusion over the number of people killed and have urged anyone who made it home safely to contact them.

They have also appealed to anyone who was on either of the trains and are especially keen to talk to anyone who was in Carriage H but disembarked at Reading.

The number to call is 0171 834 7777. Worried relatives and friends should call the same number.

All people on the train or witnesses nearby are also asked to call the British Transport Police answerphone on 0800 405040 and leave their name and numbers so they can be contacted as part of the inquiry.